Shipping container



W. R. O'CONNOR. SHIPPING CONTAINER. FILED MAY 11,192].

William-LR. D'Bunnmr" Patented Feb. ti, 1923.

new STAT SHIPPING CONTAINER.

Application filed May 11,

T 0 all who r11. it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM R. OCoN- Non, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elizabeth, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shipping Containers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to' containers of the type utilized for shipping fruits, vegetables, and the like, and the primary object of the invention is toprovide a novel container constructed of metal, which can be conveniently nested for return to the original shipper, and which will eliminate the necessity of using wooden barrels and the like now in vogue, which are hard and expensive to obtain, and which'cannot be conveniently returned to the shipper, without largefreight expense.

Another ob 'ect of the invention is to provide a metallic shipping container having a novel'means for permitting butler and insulating pads to be associated therewith, said. pads being sprung in position and auto ma'tically held in place against accidental movement, which not only act to prevent injury to the fruit or vegetables, but to prevent the fruit or vegetablesfrom becoming unduly affected by heat or cold, the con tainer itself serving to space the articles contained therein fromthe floor of the car or other support on which they may be placed.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved shipping container embodying a. metallic tapered body and removable metallic heads, the body being so formed as to prevent the insertion of the heads therein beyond a predetermined point, whereby the fruit or vegetables cannot be injured by the pressing of the heads into position.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved metallic shipping container of the above character, which is durable and eiiicient in use, one that is simple and easy to manufacture, and one which can be placed upon the market at a reasonable cost.

lVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described,

1921. Serial No. 468,781.

claimed and illustrated in the accompanying d *awings, formiing a part of' this speciiication, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved container.

Figure 2 is a vertical diametric section through the same, and

Figure 3 is a top plan-view of the improved container.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters'des'ignate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A indicates the body of the container; B and C the heads therefor, and D the buffer and insulating pads The body A is formed of metal'of the desired thickness and can be either of sheet steel or of sheet iron, suitably galvanized or otherwise treated to prevent rust. This body A is gradually tapered toward one end, in order to permit a number of containers to be conveniently nested during shipping or storing. The terminals of the body A are rolled and inturned to provide reinforcing flanges or heads 5, and if so desired these flanges may be turned about suitable hoops or rings 6. These annular inturned flanges 5 serve not only to form reinforcements for the ends of the body, but also as means to hold the buffer and'heat insulating pads D in position, as will behereinafter more fully described. The ends of the body are further braced and reinforced by metallic end bands '7 and 8, which can be secured to the body in any preferred manner, such as by rivets or by welding or brazing. As clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, the bands 7 and 8 project outwardly beyond the terminals of the body A in order to serve as means for receiving the removable heads B and (l. The outer ends of the bands 7 and 8 are increased in thickness, as at 9 in order to form a reinforcement therefor, and the outer edges of these bands are provided with inwardly extending bayonet slots 10 which cooperate with means carried by the heads B and C, for holding the heads and C in position against accidental displacement.

The heads B and C are constructed substantially the same, and each include a disc shaped metallic plate 10 which can be if so desired, provided with a marginal reinforcing ring 11 on its inner face. The outer surface of each disc shaped plate 10 is provided with crossed brace bars or strips 12, which are arranged in pairs and disposed on the opposite sides of the diametric center of the plate. These brace bars or strips 12 extend entirely across the entire surface of the plate and at the point of crossing of the bars or strips, the same be bent, or looped as at 13. These strips or bars can be held in place on the plates in any preferred manner, such as by rivets or the like, and have their terminals bent angularly to provide radially extending lugs l i, which are adapted to be in the bayonet slots in time in order to hold the heads in position. It can be seen that the lugs let are placed in the slots 10' and the head then given a partial turn, in order to force the lugs under the shoulders formed by the bayonet slots. The annular shoulders 5 form seats for the heads and prevent the heads from being inserted too far in the body A of the container to prevent injury of the articles packed therein.

The buffer and insulating pad D may be of any desired material or construction, but as shown these pads are made of heavy corrugated paper Which is utilized to a great extent in making heavy fiber or paper shipping boxes. The pads D include an annular body pad or portion 15, which is of the same shape as the body A of the container, and this pad 15 is slightly bent and sprung into position in engagement With the confronting faces of the beads or inturned annular shoulders 5. This forms an important part of the invention, as the shoulders act as an automatic means for locking the pad in position and firmly hold the same against accidental displacement. End pads 16 and 17 of circular configuration are also pro Vided, and these pads engage the inner surnaee, 1 e4 face of the beads or shoulders 5, and the heads B and C.

From the foregoing description, it can be seen that an improved metallic shipping container has been provided, of exceptionally simple and durable construction, Which will permit the convenient shipping of fruit and vegetables, such as apples, potatoes and the like, without injury thereto.

Changes in details may be made Without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention; but,

I claim:

1. A metallic shipping container comprising a cylindrical elongated body provided With inturned annular beads formed on the terminals of the body, a cylindrical pad ar ranged to removably engage the inner surface of the body and, the confronting faces of said beads, heads arranged on the outer faces of said beads, and disc shaped pads removably engaging the inner surfaces of the heads and fitting Within the said heads.

2. In a metallic shipping container, a cylindrical elongated body having inturned annular beads formed on the terminals thereof, and a cylindrical pad arranged to be sprung in between and engage the confronting faces of said beads, and the inner surface of the cylindrical body.

3. A metallic shipping container comprising a body, bands secured to the terminals of the body and projecting outwardlytherefrom, inturned beads formed on the terminals of the body and disposed Within the bands, heads fitted in the bands and arranged on said beads, means securing the heads to said bands, a corrugated pad, arranged to be sprung in between the beads in engagement With the inner surface of the body, and end corrugated pads engaging said beads and said heads.

WILLIAM R. OCONNOR. 

